Subject: Help with Global settings

From: Michael Eilman <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 11:57:56 -0800

I am relatively new with Pine, and I am trying to set up all of my users 
to have the same alias files, distribution lists, configuration of 
printers, etc.  Is there a simple way to do this?  Also, how do I set up 
distribution lists at all.  Help is apprecitated, thanks.

Mike

---

From: Mike Brudenell <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 09:19:45 +0000 (GMT)

There are two "systemwide" configuration files that the SysAdmin can use
to configure Pine.  Both usually live in the /usr/local/lib directory
(although you can change this by modifying the source code and recompiling
if you wish).

The "pine.conf" file provides default settings for Pine users.  The users
can override values set up in this file.

The "pine.conf.fixed" file provides 'fixed' settings for Pine users, which
they cannot override in their personal settings.

You can get a template pine.conf file by giving the command:

	pine -conf >pine.conf

and then copying this to /usr/local/lib.  Edit it to set any defaults you
wish.  Then make a copy of it as pine.conf.fixed and delete everything
except those settings you wish to force upon your users with no chance to
override.

Do remember to make sure that both files are readable by the users.

Address Books (providing aliases for sending messages and distribution
lists) are usually personal items.  However you can set up a systemwide
Global Addressbook if you wish, then putting the filespec of this in the
relevant configuration variable name in the systemwide configuration file.

The addressbook is of quite a simple format, with fields of entries
separated by Tabs.  Try creating a personal address book with a few
entries (including a distribution list with several entries) to see what
this is.  Alternatively someone else may take pity on you and explain the
format in detail.

After creating this you will need to create a "lookup" file for it using
the command:

	pine -create_lu <addrbk> <sort>

where <addrbk> is the name of the addressbook file, and <sort> is the sort
method to use to order entries within it.  Check the man page for Pine to
see what these are.

Again, remember to check that both the main addressbook file and the
lookup file are readable by the people they are provided for.

Cheers,

-- 
Mike Brudenell                                         <[email-masked]>
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